Marcus Smart Receives Final Injury Designation for Lakers vs. Wizards

The Los Angeles Lakers are trying to finish the 2025-26 NBA regular season on a high note, with eight games left on the team’s schedule.

Unfortunately for the Lakers, the team will be shorthanded once again on Monday when it hosts the Washington Wizards at Crypto.com Arena, with a few notable players set to miss the matchup.

Marcus Smart & Adou Thiero Ruled Out vs. Wizards

Marcus Smart and Adou Thiero have been ruled OUT for tomorrow's game against the Wizards, while Luka Doncic will serve his one-game suspension pic.twitter.com/TtsI7QbINW
— Ryan Ward (@RyanWardLA) March 30, 2026

Veteran guard Marcus Smart continues to nurse a right ankle contusion, which will keep him sidelined for a fourth straight game. Rookie Adou Thiero is also on the mend, dealing with soreness in his left knee that will keep him in street clothes for a third consecutive game.

Luka Doncic to Serve One-Game Ban vs. Wizards

Mar 27, 2026; Los Angeles, California, USA; Los Angeles Lakers guard Luka Doncic (77) reacts during the second half against the Brooklyn Nets at Crypto.com Arena. Mandatory Credit: William Liang-Imagn Images | William Liang-Imagn Images

Along with Smart and Thiero being ruled out, superstar guard Luka Doncic will serve his one-game suspension on Monday for being assessed his 16th technical foul of the season during the win over the Brooklyn Nets last week.

With Smart and Doncic unavailable for Monday's game, the team will likely lean on Luke Kennard, Jake LaRavia and Rui Hachimura to help pick up the slack. Bronny James has also been getting minutes during Smart's absence, so that might continue against the Wizards.

Although it is never ideal for the Lakers not to have Doncic on the floor, especially while playing at an NBA MVP-caliber level, the superstar guard serving the suspension on Monday is a stroke of luck for Los Angeles, with the Wizards having the second-worst record in the NBA at 17-57.

Washington has lost nine of its last 10 games and seems to be looking toward the 2026 NBA Draft rather than focusing on winning games in the final stretch of the regular season. Doncic will get some much-needed rest after dealing with a hamstring issue and will prepare for Tuesday's game against the visiting Cleveland Cavaliers, who are trying to move up to third place in the Eastern Conference, with the New York Knicks sitting ahead of them in the standings.

Tuesday's game will be a challenge, to say the least, for the Lakers, with the Cavaliers winning seven of their last 10 games as of Sunday night. Cleveland, like Los Angeles, will be playing the second game of a back-to-back set on Tuesday, with Donovan Mitchell and company taking on the Utah Jazz on Monday at the Delta Center.

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